ENTRAPMENT Meaning and
Definition
-
Entrapment is a legal term used to describe a situation in which individuals are induced, encouraged, or coerced by law enforcement agents or officials into committing criminal acts that they would not have otherwise committed. It involves the deliberate establishment of a snare or trap by law enforcement, in order to catch individuals in the act of illegal activities. The primary purpose of entrapment is to gather evidence against potential suspects and secure their conviction.
Entrapment typically manifests when an agent of the government lures or tempts an individual to engage in illegal conduct, despite the absence of any predisposition on the part of the individual. This means that if the person had not been persuaded or manipulated by the authorities, they would not have committed the offense. While entrapment can take various forms, it often involves the use of deception, false offers, or the creation of fictitious scenarios to push individuals into committing unlawful acts.
The concept of entrapment is essential in criminal law as it functions as a defense strategy to exclude evidence obtained through unethical or questionable law enforcement methods. If the defense successfully proves entrapment, courts may suppress the evidence or even dismiss the charges against the accused, as it is deemed an unfair and unconstitutional practice. However, the burden of proof lies with the defendant to demonstrate both government inducement and a lack of predisposition to commit the crime.
In summary, entrapment refers to the act of law enforcement officials inducing individuals to commit illegal acts that they were not inclined to commit initially, often through deceptive practices. It is a crucial legal concept that safeguards against the abuse of power while balancing the interests of justice and public safety.
Top Common Misspellings for ENTRAPMENT *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for ENTRAPMENT
Etymology of ENTRAPMENT
The word "entrapment" originated from the Middle English term "entrapen", which was a combination of "en-" (meaning "in") and "trap" (meaning "snare" or "device for capturing"). "Entrapen" ultimately derived from the Old French word "entrapier", meaning "to capture" or "to take or seize by a snare". It can be traced back to the Latin word "intrappare", a combination of "in-" (meaning "in" or "into") and "trappare" (meaning "to trap").
Similar spelling words for ENTRAPMENT
- entrain,
- endurable,
- endurance,
- entreat,
- entrepot,
- entranced,
- entr'acte,
- entrancement,
- entrance,
- enthrallment,
- endearment,
- entrant,
- entreaty.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
